Section V, 1921 (7] Trans. R.S.C. 



Coloured Thinking and Allied Conditions 



By D. Fraser Harris, M.D., D.Sc, F.R.S.E., F.R.S.C. 



(Read May Meeting, 1921) 



When one sensation, say a sound, involuntarily calls up another 

 sensation, say that of light or colour, we say the percipient has linked 

 sensations, or one of the synaesthesiae. This particular form, coloured 

 hearing {audition colorée, farhiges Horen), is by far the commonest. 



Musicians seem peculiarly liable to experience colours when 

 tones or voices are heard ; thus we read of organ notes as being violet, 

 violin green, a human voice as brown or yellow, and so on. Some 

 coloured hearers always see dark colours along with notes of low 

 pitch, and pale or bright colours with those of high pitch. Such 

 linked sensations are called sound- or phono-photisms. 



Much rarer are the cases where the other sensations produce 

 light or colour, but such are known; thus we can have — an odour 

 calling up a colour (an olfacto-photism) ; a taste calling up a colour 

 (a gusto-photism) ; heat or cold sensations calling up a colour (thermo- 

 photism); and lastly pain calling up a colour (an algeso-photism). 

 Specific examples of these are^ — ^smell of musk recalling scarlet and 

 gold; an acid taste being described as yellow; a cold sensation as 

 white, rheumatic pains grey, and toothache black. 



Examples of Synaesthesiae are — "Who is that speaking in a 

 dark-brown voice?"; Schubert's music calls up a sunny green; full- 

 toned speech is like a coloured picture, whispering is like a black and 

 white engraving, a musty smell is like grey and red, an acid taste calls 

 up yellow, something hot in the mouth gives a sense of whiteness. 

 "The gorse in bloom is like a thousand silver trumpets"; bright lights 

 arouse the sounds of high pitched notes; dim, or dull colours those of 

 low pitched. Schubert's music calls up the smell of young pine trees. 

 "The sharp perfume had in it something provocative and exciting that 

 was like a sound." "Scarlet was like the sound of a trumpet." 

 "To remember some words is to touch a fîower." 



Beethoven said he would make the blind girl "hear moonlight." 



"I can smell the sunset." 



Distinct both from synaesthesia and from coloured thinking is the 

 thought-form or psychogram. 



